Asphalt pavements are frequently subjected to fatigue cracking, rutting, and surface wear, which accelerate maintenance needs and shorten service life. This study evaluates the performance enhancement of NHA Class B dense-graded asphalt mixtures (12.5 mm NMAS) prepared with a 60/70 penetration grade binder through carbon fiber (CF) reinforcement. Chopped fibers (~12.7 mm) were incorporated via the dry mixing process at dosages of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% by binder weight. The results indicate that the 1.0% CF mixture delivered optimal performance, with ITS increasing by 51.9%, Marshall stability improving by 38.4%, resilient modulus rising by 42.6%, and rut depth decreasing by 69.2% compared to the unmodified control. Dynamic stability reached 33,750 passes/mm, demonstrating substantial resistance to permanent deformation. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA confirmed that all improvements were significant (p < 0.05). Despite a ~6.7% increase in initial cost, the CF-modified mix exhibited strong economic viability, achieving a benefit–cost ratio of 4.79 and significant life-cycle savings over 20 years. These findings underscore carbon fiber as an effective modifier for developing durable, high-performance asphalt composites with reduced maintenance requirements. This work contributes to the advancement of smart and sustainable pavement technologies for resilient transportation infrastructure.
Khan et al. (Sat,) studied this question.